122 THE VOYAGE OF THE 'DISCOVERY' [Feb. 



had become wholly distasteful, and sometimes quite impossible. 

 At this time I seemed to be incapable of all but eating or 

 sleeping or lounging in the depths of an armchair, whilst I 

 lazily scanned the files of the newspapers which had grown so 

 unfamiliar. Many days passed before I could rouse myself 

 from this slothful humour, and it was many weeks before I had 

 returned to a normally vigorous condition. 



It was probably this exceptionally relaxed state of health 

 that made me so slow to realise that the ice conditions were 

 very different from what they had been in the previous season. 

 I was vaguely surprised to learn that the ' Morning ' had 

 experienced so much obstruction in the Ross Sea, and I was 

 astonished to hear that the pack was still hanging in the 

 entrance of the Sound, and as yet showed no sign of clearing 

 away to the north ; but it was long before I connected these 

 facts with circumstances likely to have an adverse bearing on 

 our position, and the prospect of the ice about us remaining 

 fast throughout the season never once entered my head. 



My diary for this month shows a gradual awakening to the 

 true state of affairs, and I therefore give some extracts from it, 

 more especially as when the news of our detention first 

 reached England it was half suspected that the delay was 

 intentional, and it is doubtful whether that view has been 

 entirely dissipated even yet. 



* February 8. — We are expecting a general break-up of the 

 ice every day, but for some reason it is hanging fire. This is 

 the date of our arrival at Hut Point last year, and then the 

 open water extended as far as the Point ; it is evident that 

 this season is very backward, and I do not like the way in 

 which the pack is hanging about in sight of the " Morning." 

 It must go far to damp all prospects of the swell necessary for 

 a general break-up. The " Morning " is eight miles away ; 

 very slowly she is creeping closer, but I do not think that she 

 has advanced more than a quarter of a mile in the last week. 

 We have been arranging the stores which are to be transferred, 

 but it will be rather a waste of labour to transport them whilst 

 the distance remains so great. 



